Shelving construction.



I R. R. BELGHER.

SHELVING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1908.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

noontoz atknnu Witnmu RALBH ROY BELCHER, OF BAINBRIDGE, GEORGIA.

SHELVINC-r CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed July 3, 1908. Serial No. 441,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, RALPH ROY BELCI-LER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge, in the county of Decatur and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shelving Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shelving construction, and more particularly to shelving especially designed for use in store-houses, ware-rooms and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple and cheap system of shelving construction which shall lend itself readily to the various requirements met with in practice.

With the above object in view, and to improve generally upon the details of construction of such devices, my invention consists in the construction and arran ement of parts hereinafter described and ilustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation showing my improved shelving as it appears when assembled for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view onan enlarged scale of one of the shelf supporting brackets, and a fragment of the associated post. Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view showing one of the members forming the shelf supporting bracket. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base of a post showing the parts separated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I construct my improved supporting-column or post of two spaced parallel members 1, 2, preferably angle irons, having a plate 3 disposed between them and co-extensive with the .webs thereof. The two angle irons and plate are rigidly secured together by suitable fastening means, as for example bolts or rivets 4.

As clearly shown in 2 to 4, I pro- ,vide the plate 3 with a serles of rectangular notches 5 arranged at intervals throughout its length, which notches leave projecting portions 6 extending substantially flush with the front edge of the angle irons. At the extreme top and bottom of the post, the corners of the plate 3 are cut away so as to form notches 7.

It will thus be observed that when the parts of the post are assembled, the notches 5 form sockets for the reception of the shelf supporting brackets, while the notches 7 at one or both ends of theost are ada ted I to receive the webs 8 of suitable pedesta s 9.

These pedestals are adapted to be attached to the floor A or ceiling B, or both, of a store or ware-house C, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and serve to support the post at its end. If desired, the post may also be secured directly to the wall of the building by means of bolts or screws passing through holes such as.13. The webs 8 of the pedestals are provided with holes 10 and corresponding holes 11 are formed near the ends of the angle irons and through these alined holes bolts 12 may be passed when the parts are assembled. The holes 14 are also formed in the webs of the angle irons'opposite the notches 5 in the plate 3, and through these holes and corresponding holes 16 in the shelf supporting brackets, bolts 15 may be passed to secure the parts together.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that I construct my novel shelf supporting bracket of two similar members placed side by side. members is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and comprises a web portion 18, a shelf supporting portion 19 extending substantially at right angles therefrom, a shelf retaining portion 20 extending substantially at right angles to the other two portions, and finally, a socket engaging portion 17 4 which is preferably a continuation of the web 18. These members are readily and cheaply formed by cutting and bending sheet metal, but I do not of course limit my invention in this respect, as the member may be cast if desired. The size of the portions 17 is such that when the two members are placed together they snugly fit within, and substantially fill, the sockets formed by the notches 5 in the plate 3.

Shelving 21, which. may be of wood or other suitable material, notched to fit the post, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted to be laid in the supporting brackets, and this shelving may be made in such lengths as to require joints at each bracket as shown in- Fig. 2, or may be of reater length and continuous at certain of the brackets as indi cated by the cross hatching in Fig. 1. By reference to. this figure, it will *also be observed that the brackets may be made of any desired length, and that shelving of different widths may be arranged as desired.

While I have shown the post as secured to the wall of a building, it is perfectly obvious that these posts may be set up at a distance from the wall and suitably braced. Also,

One of these two posts may be arranged back to back, and shelving supported on each side thereof. This arrangement is particularly desirable in constructing bargain or display counters, in stores and the like.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a strong and simple shelving construction which may be easily attached to any existing ware-house, and it is thought that the numerous advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

hat I claim is -1. In a shelving construction, a post, of substantial T-shape in cross-section comprising web and flange portions, the flange portions adapted tovbe secured to a suitable support, and the web portions consisting of a plurality ofthicknesses or layers of ma terial, the middle layer being cut away at intervals to form sockets, said sockets extending from the edge of said web portion back toward the flange portions, between the outside. layers of material, and shelf supporting brackets 'each having .a single tenon fitting into, and completely filling one of said sockets, whereby said brackets are rigidly supported.

i l g I l l l 2. In a shelving construction, a post provided with sockets, and shelf supporting brackets fixed in said sockets, each bracket comprising a pair of juxtaposed similar members secured together, each member comprising a shelf receiving portion, a

shelf retaining portion, and a socket engagshelf supporting brackets secured in the intermediate' notches, and a pedestal fitting in said end notch and adapted to be attached to the floor or ceiling of a building.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IIGSSQS.

RALPH ROY BELCHER. Witnesses F. FITZGERALD, J. E. SAPP. 

